Koch brothers don't understand Indiana

The Koch brothers through Americans for Prosperity are trying to push Gov. Mike Pence's tax cut. Perhaps this is a trial run for future support of Pence's issues by the Koch brothers. The Kochs have hired one of Pence's former employees and spouse of one of his current employees.

But there is a fundamental conflict present in the Indiana budget that the Kochs many not understand. There are at least three issues with higher priority than the minimal state income tax cut. The first is that the legislature wants to use that money for preschool. Anyone who says they support prosperity should understand that investment in pre-K education gets the best return of money. Second, there are some legislators who say that Indiana roads and bridges need funds. Yes, that increases prosperity.

Third, the Kochs strongly supported the elimination or reduction of the federal estate tax. The Indiana inheritance tax is in the process of being phased out. However, it is possible in the final years of the tax that the cost of administration would exceed the funds received by the inheritance taxes. Thus, the legislature needs to speed up the phase out. Are the Kochs saying that Pence's income tax return is more important than a phase out of a tax the Kochs have hated for decades?

Finally, there is another point. Pence's tax cut does not occur in a vacuum. We have had about 25 years of frugal state government under Govs. Evan Bayh, Frank O'Bannon, Joe Kernan and Mitch Daniels. Are the Kochs saying that Daniels was a spendthrift?

John J. Sullivan

Indianapolis

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Koch brothers don't understand Indiana

The Koch brothers through Americans for Prosperity are trying to push Gov. Mike Pence's tax cut. Perhaps this is a trial run for future support of Pence's issues by the Koch brothers.